​The Center for Pre-Collegiate and Academic Outreach Programs at ​the University of Colorado Denver administers pre-college and pipeline programs. These programs are designed to educate, motivate, and prepare students to be successful in secondary and post-secondary education with the ultimate goal of obtaining a higher education degree.

The Pre-Collegiate Middle School Academic Program (PCMSAP) at the University of Colorado Denver Downtown Campus is an academic enhancement program. The Program is designed to adequately prepare first generation college bound students in grades 7 and 8 to enroll in a college preparatory curriculum and successfully complete their secondary school career. Therefore, students selected to participate in the Program will be expected to remain active participants throughout their middle school years.

The Program will offer students the opportunity to engage in a wide range of pre-college activities throughout the academic year. The academic component will offer students monthly Saturday Academies consisting of basic study skills (i.e. effective note taking, test preparation, effective listening, etc.). Students will also be exposed to supplemental academic instruction, communication skills development, career exploration, high school transition preparation, and parent partnership workshops.

PCMSAP serves as a precursor to the Pre-Collegiate Development Program for high school students. Students who successfully complete the Program with a minimum of a 2.75 cumulative grade point average (GPA) or better will then be admitted to the high school program at the beginning of their freshman year.

The Pre-Collegiate Development Program (PCDP), at the University of Colorado Denver Downtown Campus, is an institutionally funded academic enhancement program for high school students. The Program has been in existence on the Denver Campus since January of 1988. The program's objective is to motivate and prepare first generation college bound students (grades 9 thru 12), who attend Denver metro area high schools, to successfully complete high school on a timely basis and possess the necessary skills to successfully enter and graduate from a college or university of their choice.

During the academic year, students are provided with relevant Saturday Academies in areas such as: the College Access Process, Basic Study Skills Mastery, Career Exploration, and Student Communication Workshops. During the summer, students are provided with either a two-week (sophomores) or five-week (juniors) intensive Summer Academic Program.

During this experience, students are exposed to various academic courses, which are designed to enhance and augment their college entry requirements (i.e. mathematics, sciences, and writing) once they return to their host high school for either their junior or senior year.

The CU Denver Scholars Program is an early college enrollment program for college bound, high-achieving first generation students who enroll in college courses on campus during their senior year of high school. Students begin their college studies by taking one course at CU Denver during the fall and spring semesters of their senior year in high school. The credit earned in the course can be applied toward a bachelor's degree at the institution the student will attend. While enrolled in the program, students participate in Saturday Academies. Workshops at these academies are designed to prepare students for college study and introduce them and their parents to the rigors of a college environment.

Prior to and during their enrollment, scholars engage in orientation, admissions, financial aid seminars, and other workshops. Some workshops will request the presence of a parent or guardian. These workshops are designed to acclimate the students to the university and prepare them for full-time college study. Assistance with course selection, educational planning, and tutoring is provided to students.